Al Hilal Still The Team to Beat in the Saudi Pro League, Given Their Storming Start to the 2024/25 Season
The biggest question facing the Saudi Pro League ahead of the 2024/25 season was who would stop Jorge Jesus and his Al Hilal charges?
After the champions stormed to an undefeated season last year, many pundits and observers thought that several of the major sides in the league could regroup and represent a fierce challenge for Al Hilal this time around.
While other sides in the Saudi Pro League have bolstered their ranks and are well-prepared for a long season, Al Hilal have not skipped a bit; they have started like they mean to progress this season. The momentum they showed last season is still visible in their opening two performances this season.
Jorge Jesus’ charges displayed scintillating form in the season-opening Saudi Super Cup as they beat Al Ahli and Al Nassr, two of their major challengers at the top-end of the Saudi Pro League, en route to lifting the trophy. This start was a statement of intent to the rest of the league that they will not relent this season as they look to defend their title.
After two rounds of fixtures in the Saudi Pro League, Al Hilal have notched six goals and got two wins. They have shown diversity to their approach in matches and a capacity to win the close and tight matches and the dominant ones. For example, their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Damac demonstrated their ability to find ways to win even when their free-flowing football is not on show.
Jorge Jesus will be pleased with his side’s start to the season, and will look to use the international break to get everyone in the right mindset and physical fitness to attack the season after the return to action.
The next two matches will go a long way to defining Al Hilal’s season and the rest of the league’s hopes of catching up. They will face Al Riyadh in the Riyadh Derby, which will be a test given Al Riyadh’s marked improvement this season. They will then face title rivals Al Ittihad in the Saudi Clasico, which will present a significant hurdle for Al Hilal.
If they come through these two matches unscathed, Al Hilal’s position in the league will be imperious, and their start could be ominous to the rest of the title hopefuls. If they drop points, it will show that 2024/25 will not be the procession that the previous season was.
